"I can't say I completely enjoyed my time in. Losing my E4 stripes less than 36 hours after earning them hurt quite a bit, though I completely acknowledge it was my own screwup that lead to that. I just think the punishment was…"

"Thanks David and Jim.
That's quite a ccareer shift, Jim! Glad it worked out for you.
Yep, I was and always will be a 'submariner'. It's a 'family' thing amongst us. I still communicate with shipmates…"

"Dear David,
As requested:
I was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy in 1966 after completing OCS in Newport RI, and my first assignment was aboard the USS Hickman County, LST 825 in December 1966 as her communications officer. Doing the year+,…"

"I just posted a few photos you might enjoy. These are about all I have left of the hundreds I took when I was in. I lost everything I owned but a few pics I had in an album my dad had when a ruptured gas line and resulting fire destroyed my home and…"

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I can't say I completely enjoyed my time in. Losing my E4 stripes less than 36 hours after earning them hurt quite a bit, though I completely acknowledge it was my own screwup that lead to that. I just think the punishment was harsher than it needed to be. That's what directly lead to my getting out as an E2 after six years instead of making it a career as I'd intended going in. Ah well, I was young and stupid and actions sometimes have bad consequences. I've gotten smarter about that in the past 40 some odd years.

Navy duty did have its moments though. I'd love to spend time in the Carribean again (my wife refuses to move anywhere south of Virginia), or retire to Mallorca, Spain, a place I totally fell in love with on my first Med cruise. I got to see parts of the world I'd never have seen otherwise, got to play with some really nice "bang-bang" stuff, and generally met and interacted with some really wonderful people.

Yep, I was and always will be a 'submariner'. It's a 'family' thing amongst us. I still communicate with shipmates 50 years later. I served on a missile boat in the Pacific out of Guam but also did TDY's on a diesel boat out of San Diego (USS Pomfret) and a fast attack (USS Scamp). Like a fool, I served 4 1/2 years of active duty as a LT in Radio and Sonar as well as in the engineering spaces.

I was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy in 1966 after completing OCS in Newport RI, and my first assignment was aboard the USS Hickman County, LST 825 in December 1966 as her communications officer. Doing the year+, I was aboard, we operated in the Vietnam delta, various Vietnam costal cities and on the DMZ. My next assignment was with Naval Beach Group One (NBG-1) in Coronado, Ca., albeit I did several TDYs to other locations. Doing that time I was promoted to LTJG and was tentatively going to Monterey for post graduate training but In September 1969, I was transferred to the US Army by the Secretary of Defense and immediately promoted to the Army rank of Captain.

I remained in the Army, reaching the rank of Colonel, with various assignments and worldwide post until I retired in 1992.

I just posted a few photos you might enjoy. These are about all I have left of the hundreds I took when I was in. I lost everything I owned but a few pics I had in an album my dad had when a ruptured gas line and resulting fire destroyed my home and left me living on the streets for a couple years.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS/MEMORIES: * My father (now deceased) was Chief J.B. "Willie" Williams UNSNR CPO ADRC NAS ATLANTA, Chamblee/Marietta, 1940 thru 1968, VP?? and VR54??? He was a rare "lifer' at one base his entire career in the USNR NAS ATLANTA due to his undeniable expertise with aviation and a leader of men. He was hand picked to set up the "NEW: NAS Atlanta Base move from NAS ATLANTA Chamblee (1966/69) and completed that task! * I Graduating Bootcamp (2x6 program, extended to 3 years to get shore duty) @ NAS Memphis in top 10% (1972) and as a result got my pick of shore station, which of course was...NAS ATLANTA/MARIETTA! Yes, I was a military brat! *Going to the Allatoona Lake NAS Atlanta Recreational Site where a Seabee with last name MINGO was on site manager. * Flying to and from bootcamp from NAS Atlanta to NAS Memphis in a P3 ORION! * Getting PAID to drive my 1963 VW Bug to NAS Mayport for fire fighting school (per diem gas pay)! *Going on summer 2 week cruises with our 4x4 weekend warrior squardrons 3 to 4 times a year...on USN A/C Carriers...Rossevelt, Independence and the Forrestal, MCAS? Yuma, NAS JAX, NAS NOR, NAS Mayport and GITMO (Guantanimo Bay Cuba)! I have hundreds of stories to share and WOULD NOT TRADE ANYTHING FOR ALL THE FRIENDS AND MY TIME in the USNR. ...more to come! Sorry for the ramble!

Yeah, looking for stories /sea stories for a book I'm writing. I already have one book out and am working on two others. First book; IN REPOSE, about diving on the USS Arizona, Second book; HOO YAH DEEP SEA, expected out this year, and third book; SITTING ROUND THE CHARLIE NOBLE, looking at next year. The second and third books are story anthologies.

Sorry David, been away from my computer. In response to your question, Yes, I did spend many a time on top deck during flight ops in the little two man room designated for the medical dept. Eyes couldn't, get use to the "red" light that we were required to use at all times while on hard top or in our room. Made for difficult time trying to read anything with the red lights.